Union finds it ‘vexatious’ that workers have still not received pension, gratuity payout

The National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) is threatening protest action on behalf of 30 former Caves of Barbados employees who the union leadership says have not been paid their promised pensions and gratuities since being made  redundant two years ago.

Deputy General Secretary of the island’s largest public sector trade union Wayne Walrond on Monday described the situation as scandalous and vexatious.

Walrond said the workers, who were transferred from the National Conservation Commission (NCC) to the Caves of Barbados had still been employed under the NCC board and were promised their monies within six months of retrenchment.

“We would have thought by now that all of the transactions and processes would have been cleared for the insurance company to pay the money, but to date, we are still hearing that these workers are suffering. We are very annoyed and they could come to NUPW and picket.

“Obviously, they are retired so they won’t come out on the streets, so we are prepared to come to the point that they could come to the NUPW and picket. This is a very serious situation,” the deputy union leader disclosed during an interview with Barbados TODAY.

Asked why the ex-employees are being encouraged to picket at the NUPW and not outside the property where they worked,  the deputy general secretary explained that Chukka Caribbean, the Jamaican company which currently manages the Caves of Barbados business, is not responsible for any pay-outs.

“That is between the former employer and the insurance company,” he pointed out.

Walrond said the affected workers who are entitled to a pension and gratuity at age 60 continue to feel the pain of having no income because of broken promises.

“So we think it is scandalous and vexatious to have workers out there suffering who after working, at 60, have not been able to draw their pension and gratuity. It is scandalous and ridiculous. We are not privy as to the reasons why the money has not been paid out,” the NUPW official stated.

Walrond suggested that even if the pensions are not paid now, the retirees should at least receive an advancement of their gratuities.

When contacted, Chairman of Caves of Barbados Ralph Thorne promised to look into the matter and provide an update.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb